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Description
Following the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal, Romania''s energy transition becomes inevitable. However, the lack of commitment of central authorities regarding this transition creates a need for debate in the public sphere on how Romania will implement this transition. The debates and the published analyses of this project will have the role to cover this gap and to determine the Romanian public authorities to assume more ambitious environmental targets. The relevant public authorities and ministries will be provided with good practice recommendations collected from countries that have gone through similar processes. In the context of the energy transition, Romania faces a lack of vision regarding the socio-economic future of the main lignite mining region - Gorj county. The massive layoffs, the Oltenia Energy Complex has to make every year, will have negative effects throughout the county if the local and central authorities do not agree with the other relevant actors on a strategy for the transition of the region. Our role is to bring all relevant actors to the same table so that together they can find beneficial solutions for all stakeholders. In order to increase the interest for this region and its problems, we will contribute to its visibility in the national media. The legal challenges that the Romanian lignite mines and power plants are faced with have a significant negative impact on the health of the communities in the regions in which they operate. Two thermal power plants, Govora and Mintia, operate at this moment without an integrated environmental authorization. They are located near Natura 2000 sites, and an adequate environmental assessment of the sites has not been performed so far. In this context we will ensure that environmental law is respected by the operators of the power plants and quarries in Romania. Moreover, we will train 20 young lawyers to practice environmental law.
Summary of project results
The project responded to the complex challenges of the energy transition in Romania. The issues addressed included the lack of an adequate legislative framework for renewable energy, non-compliance with environmental legislation and the negative social impact of the transition on local communities.
Activities included: • Participation in public consultations on the elaboration of key strategic plans for the energy transition (NRRP, RePowerEU, NECP) and publication of analyses; • Organising debates and conferences on energy transition and access to justice, with the participation of numerous experts and government representatives; • Organising an environmental law course for young professionals and setting up the first environmental legal clinic in the country; • Access to justice and monitoring public policies to improve environmental legislation and transparency in decision-making; • Creating a documentary film and web documentary to raise awareness on the challenges of the energy transition.
The impact of the project can be summarized in four aspects: • Through essential contributions to national plans unsustainable investments have been excluded and targets for renewable energy have been increased; • Just Transition has been successfully promoted in Gorj County, actively involving local communities; • Through media activities the project reached more than 3 million people, informing the public about energy transition and environmental law; • The establishment of the first environmental law clinic attracted over 25 professionals, contributing to the legal protection of the environment. The project demonstrated the importance of integrating civil society into decision-making processes and showed that a participatory approach can bring significant long-term benefits for communities and the environment. Its impact has been recognized at national and European level and the lessons learned will guide future initiatives in the field of energy transition.